Holder for desk paraphernalia



y 1940. E. R. POSNACK I 2,202,300

HOLDER on DESK PARAPHERNALIA Filed May 1, 1939 Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates to holders for writing paraphernalia and the like, such as paper, pads, cards, letters and writing implements, and pertains particularly to devices of this category in the form of stands adapted for convenient placement upon desks and tables.

Cognizance is taken of many designs of desk appliances for holding various writing appurtenances, but they are not generally provided with means, forming part of a simple structure, adapted to conveniently receive and releasably retain therein certain desk paraphernalia and at the same time present a readily accessible and convenient writing surface for note-taking. It is hence primarily within the contemplation of this invention to provide just such a device, of presentable and ornamental appearance, economical to fabricate, and capable of quickly and readily receiving, and retaining in accessible positions, a pad of writing paper, one or more writing implements, cards, and memorandum sheets.

Most commonly used pad holders are either of the fiat type where the writing surface of the exposed sheet is unobstructed but where a detachment of each sheet must be. effected by tearing it off the holder,-or of the loose sheet type where a pad of unattached sheets .is positioned in a receptacle provided with peripheral retaining walls. In this latter type of holder the lateral peripheral walls thereof, in order to serve as retaining members, must be of greater height than the thickness of the pad, and consequently constitute obstructions and encumbrances to convenient note-taking on the pad; and furthermore, the said walls make it difficult to reach the edge of the top sheet, as well as that of an underlying sheet, for its removal from the holder. It is also to overcome these shortcomings that I have conceived my invention, an objective which I attain by combining the advantages of both of the aforesaid types of holders, and eliminating their disadvantages. And in this aspect of my invention it is an object to provide means for retaining a loose pad in such manner as toat all times present an unobstructed writing surface, and at the same time permit the ready removal of either the top or an underlying sheet'of the pad Without any tearing or other mutilation thereof.

Another object of this invention is toenable a device of the above category to conveniently accommodate a conspicuous element adapted to contain thereon a calendar, oradvertising. or

other subject matter which it is desired to present for noticeable display.

And another object of my invention is to enable a device of this category to interchangeably accommodate an ornamental or advertising element, whereby holders of various distinct and distinguishing designs and purposes can be readily and inexpensively fabricated.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a holder provided with a movable element adapted to frictionally retain therein a loose pad of paper, whereby an immediate sales appeal will be effected.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawing and the description hereinafter given In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention, showing a pad in place.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective of a modification of my invention, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective of another iorm of my invention. 1

Referring tothe drawing, the holder con stituting my invention is illustrated in Figure 1 as comprising a base Ill the back portion of which is provided with an upstanding rear wall H and two lateral walls [2 and I3 between which the weight or slide member I4 is positioned. The said walls I2 and I3 are provided with guiding means for the member M to permit a vertical sliding movement thereof and to maintain said member in spaced relation with respect to the said rear wall ll, thereby providing a compartment H: for accommodating cards and memorandum slips, as will more fully hereinafter appear. The front guides for the weight M are p-referablythe flanges l6 and I! extending inwardly from the forward portions ofthe lateral walls l2 and I3 respectively, the rear guides for the weight also extending inwardly from said lateral walls and being disposed between the rear wall H and the said flanges I6- and I1. In the preferred embodiment of my invention of Figure 1, the rear guiding means consist of the partition l8 containing a recessed portion I9 flanked by two side portions and 2l,-said side portions being preferably in slidable engagement with the rear surface of the said member l4.

Disposed between one of the side walls such as 20 and the rear Wall II is the partition 22 forming a receptacle 23 for a writing implement such as a pencil. The lateral walls l2 and I3 also contain at their upper edges the recessed portions 24 and 25 adapted to accommodate and support a pen or pencil horizontally and transversely disposed across said walls, The weighted member I4 is also shown to contain a depressed portion 26 extending longitudinally thereof and adapted for registry with the said recessed portions 24 and 25 when the upper surface 21 of the Weighted member M is substantially at the level of the upper edges of the lateral walls [2 and I3.

The base II] is adapted to support a pad of loose sheets thereon, indicated by the reference numeral 28, the rear portion of the pad extending underneath the weighted member M and retained in place thereby. Obviously, by a pull exerted in a forwardly direction upon the top sheet of the pad, it could be removed without any tearing or mutilation thereof and without affecting the other sheets in the pad. If a sheet other than the uppermost one is selected, that also can obviously be withdrawn by a sharp forward pull without affecting the position or condition of any of the other sheets. The device is adapted to conveniently accommodate a pad either of a few sheets or a single sheet, or of any desired number of sheets within the dimensional limitations of the structure And it will be observed that the pad or any of the sheets thereof, if of a width equal to the distance between the inner edges of guide flanges I6 and I7, will be held against lateral displacement by these guide flanges, thereby assuring a proper positioning of the pad. It will be also noted that the pad is held against rearward displacement, inasmuch as the rear edge of the pad is adapted for abutment with the wall H! which also serves the purpose, as hereinabove set forth, of guiding the vertical sliding movement of the weighted member 4. The arrangement is such that the writing ".urface of the pad protruding forwardly from the weighted member I4 is entirely unobstructed, there being no lateral retaining walls to interfere with the operations of either writing or with drawing any of the sheets. This is an advantage not present in any type of pad except where the sheets are adhesively or mechanically secured together for detachment by tearing them off the assembled pad.

The recessed portion E9 in the form of my invention illustrated in Figure 1 enables the weighted member M to be readily lifted, for any purpose whatsoever, such as to permit the insertion of a new pad in place or to effect an adjustment thereof. For this purpose it is preferred that the weighted member M be so proportioned that when it is in its lowermost position, it will extend above the lowermost edge of said recessed portion l9, enabling the member Hi to be grasped between the thumb and the forefinger,the thumb being applied to the front surface of the member and the forefinger to the rear surface thereof adjacent the cut out portion l 9 of wall 98.

It; is preferred that the distance between the inner edges of the guiding flanges 56 and i! be no greater than the length of compartment i5, so that sheets of paper of maximum width withdrawn from the pad can readily be placed within said compartment. Obviously, this compartment can be used for housing any other memorandum slips, cards or the like, within the dimensional limitations thereof.

As hereinabove indicated, the receptacle 23 is adapted to receive a writing implement, such as a pen or pencil, so that it will extend above the walls of the device and be readily accessible for use. Likewise a pencil can be placed upon the lateral walls l2 and [3 within the recessed portions 24 and 25 thereof. Should the position of the weighted member l4 extend above the level of said lateral walls, the grooved or recessed portion 26 will obviously accommodate the pencil, so that when the weight is lowered again, the pencil will be received by recessed portions 24 and 25 thereof and supported thereby.

The weighted member M, having in the form illustrated in Figure l fiat top and front surfaces, can be used for remembrance advertising, for calendars and the like. Such advertising matter can either be adhesively secured to these surfaces, or impressed or embossed thereupon.

The modification of my device shown in Figure 2 is substantially similar to the structure of Figure 1, except that instead of a guiding wall such as l8 with a central depressed portion therein, a wall or partitions 29 with a straight upper edge is employed, the weighted member 30 also being of modified structure. This weighted member contains in one corner thereof a recessed portion 3! thereby providing a receptacle formed by the recessed portion and adjacent surfaces of the lateral wall 32 and partition 29. With this arrangement, writing implements can be inserted within the receptacles 3i and 33. The weighted member 30 is also provided with a knob portion K to be grasped between the finger to enable such member to be operatively lifted.

Where an ornamental design is required, particularly in the form of a trade-mark figure of an advertiser, the form of my structure disclosed in Figure 3 can be employed. In most essential respects this structure is similar to those hereinabove described,the weighted member 341) being of ornamental configuration, but being otherwise slidably movable vertically between the guides 35, 36, 31 and 38. It will be noted that there is no continuous partition between the weighted member 362) and the rear wall 39, equivalent to the above-referred-to partitions l8 and 29. The guide 38 is a ridge or wall extending inwardly from the lateral wall 49 and cooperates with the wall 31 and the other guiding elements 35 and 36 for holding the weighted member 3419 against displacement. The compartment 4! and receptacle 42 are similarly adapted to operatively accommodate memo slips and writing implements, respectively. And in this form of my in vention, as well as in the others above described. the weighted member can obviously be of such configuration as to enable it to conveniently accommodate ink, paper, clips or other desk paraphernalia.

It is of course understood that the various embodiments above-described and shown in the drawing are illustrative of my invention and not employed by way of limitation, inasmuch as numerous changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a holder of the class described, a flat base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, a movable weighted member at the rear of the base and adapted to overlie and rest upon the rear portion of said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, and guiding means in engagement with said member for confining it to a predetermined substantially vertical path, said guiding means having a portion thereof in slidable engagement with the rear portion of the weighted member and adapted for abutting engagement with the rear of the pad to hold it against rearward movement, the'upper surface of the base being substantially in one plane for supporting thereupon the entire pad of paper.

2. In a holder of the class described, a fiat base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, a movable weighted member at the rear of the base and adapted to overlie and. rest upon the rear portion of said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, and guiding means in engagement with said member for confining it to a predetermined substantially vertical path, said guiding means containing two guiding elements at opposite lateral sides of the base and a guiding element at the rear of the weighted member, said guiding elements being engageable with said pad to hold it against lateral or rearward displacement, the upper surface of the base being substantially in one plane for supporting thereupon the entire pad of paper.

3. In a holder of the class described, a base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, a movable weighted member at the rear of the base and adapted to overlie and rest upon said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, an upstanding wall at the rear of the base, and guiding means in engagement with said member for confining it to a predetermined substantially vertical path, said guiding means having a portion thereof engageable with said pad to hold it against displacement and disposed between said member and said wall and spaced forwardly from the wall to provide a compartment for desk paraphernalia and the like.

4. In a holder of the class described, a base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, an upstanding wall at the rear of the base, two lateral walls adjacent said rear wall, a move able weighted member between said lateral walls and spaced forwardly from said rear wall and adapted to overlie and rest upon the rear portion of said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, and guiding means extending inwardly from said lateral walls for confining said member to a predetermined substantially vertical path, a portion of said guiding means being engageable with the rear end of said pad for holding it in spaced relation to said rear wall.

5. In a holder of the class described, a base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, a laterally enclosed compartment formed over the rear portion of the base and open at the top for receiving desk paraphernalia and the like, a movable weighted member disposed in front of said compartment and in slidable engagement with the foremost wall thereof and adapted to overlie and rest upon said pad for yieldably retaining it in place upon the base, and guiding means in engagement with said member for confining it to a predetermined substantially vertical path, said guiding means containing said foremost lateral wall of said compartment.

6. In a holder of the class described, a base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, an upstanding wall at the rear of the base, a movable weighted member in spaced relation with and disposed forwardly thereof upon the base, said member being adapted to overlie and rest upon said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, two lateral walls extending upwardly from the base and flanking said member, and front and rear guides associated with said lateral walls and operatively engageable with the front and rear portions of the weighted member for confining it to a predetermined substantially vertical path,

the said rear guides being spaced forwardly of the said wall at the rear of the base.

' 7. In a holder of the class described, the combination in accordance with claim 6, the front and rear guides extending inwardly from the said lateral walls transversely over the base, whereby the weighted member is vertically movable between the lateral walls and the guides.

8. In a holder of the class described, a base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, an upstanding wall at the rear of the base, two lateral walls adjacent said rear wall. a movable weighted-member between said lateral walls and in spaced relation to said rear wall and adapted to overlie and rest upon the rear portion of said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, and a partition wall extending transversely over the base between said lateral walls and in engagement with the rear of the weighted member, said partition wall being spaced forwardly from the said rear wall, the upper surface of the base being substantially in one plane for unobstructedly supporting the entire pad extending forwardly from said weighted member.

9. In a holder of the class described, the combination in accordance with claim 8, the said partition wall containing a recessed portion extending below the uppermost surface of the weighted member when in its lowermost position whereby a portion of the member is accessible for manual grasping.

10. In a holder of the class described, a base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, an upstanding wall at the rear of the base, two lateral walls adjacent said rear wall, a movable weighted member between said lateral walls and in spaced relation to said rear wall and. adapted to overlie and rest upon the rear portion of said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, a partition wall extending transversely over the base between said lateral walls and in engagement with the rear of the weighted member, said partition wall being spaced forwardly from the said rear wall and forming therebetween a compartment, lateral guiding elements at opposite lateral sides of the base and a guiding element at the rear of the weighted member, said guiding elements being engageable with said pad to hold it against lateral or rearward displacement, said compartment being of no less transverse width than the distance between the two said lateral guiding elements, whereby said compartment will be adapted to accommodate a Sheet from said pad.

11. In a holder of the class described, a base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, an upstanding wall at the rear of the base, two lateral walls adjacent said rear wall, a movable weighted member between said lateral walls and adapted to overlie and rest upon the rearportion of said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, and guiding means extending inwardly from said lateral walls for confining said member to a predetermined substantially vertical path, the weighted member containing along the upper portion thereof a recessed portion extending transversely of the base, and the saidlateral walls containing corresponding recessed. portions adapted for registry with the recessed portion of whereby the recessed portions can cooperatively support a pencil or pen placed transversely thereupon, the upper surface of the base being 0 the weightedmernber at one position thereof, 7

substantially in one plane for unobstructedly J" supporting the entire pad extending forwardly from said weighted member.

12. In a holder of the class described, the combination in accordance with claim 4, said guiding l means containing two walls between the back of the weighted member and the rear wall and extending only partly inwardly, leaving a portion of the Weighted member in unobstructed facing relation with the rear wall to form-a compartment therebetween.

13. In a holder of the class described, the combination in accordance with claim 4, said guiding means containing two walls between the back of the weighted member and the rear wall and extending only partly inwardly, leaving a portion or" the Weighted member in unobstructed facing relation with the rear wall to form a compartment therebetween, further provided with a partition adjacent and cooperating with one of said two guiding walls, a portion of the rear wall and a portion of the adjacent lateral wall to form a receptacle for a writing implement or the like.

14. In a holder of the class described, a base adapted to accommodate thereupon a pad of paper, a movable weighted member at the rear of the base and adapted to overlie and rest upon the rear portion of said pad for yieldably retaining it in place, two lateral walls extending upwardly from the base and flanking said member, a transverse wall between said lateral walls, and guiding means in engagement with said member for confining it to a predetermined substantially vertical path, the said weighted member containing a recessed portion at one corner thereof adjacent the intersection of said transverse Wall with one of said lateral walls to form therebetween a receptacle for a writing implement or the like.

EMANUEL R. POSNACK. 20 

